Camping im Böhmerwald

Visitors can only experience the full range of unspoilt nature to such an extent in the Bohemian Forest. Sporting activities are available in many different ways. Sports enthusiasts and nature lovers will find peace and strength here. Inspiring is the rich cuisine, which awaits visitors with unique dishes. Excursions to the towns provide an insight into the regional culture.

Special features of camping in Šumava

Campsites and small lakes belong together in Šumava. Camping in Šumava along the banks of the Lipno reservoir is particularly popular. Hundreds of hiking and cycling trails surround the lake. A variety of sporting activities round off the holiday. Culture lovers will get their money's worth with a visit to Český Krumlov. This town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for cultural and natural monuments. There is a reservoir nearby, which is ideal for swimming, and a living example of the marvellous beauty of nature is Šumava - a well-known and popular recreational area in the Czech Republic. Hiking and cycling holidays, agritourism and visits to historical sights and traditions are all on offer from the campsite. Visitors traditionally spend their time fishing, hunting or picking mushrooms.

How to get there

Travelling by car to the Bohemian Forest should be via Munich. From there, the route leads via Landshut (A92) - Deggendorf - Passau - north exit - via Wegscheid (border) or via Hauzenberg - Breitenberg (border). If you want to drive via Vienna, follow the route Vienna A1 - Linz - B127 - Bohemian Forest. There is also the option of travelling by train or bus. You then travel to Linz main station and from there take tram line 3 and the Mühlkreisbahn as well as the bus to the Šumava villages. Whether you are travelling by car or public transport, you will have to cover a distance of around 500 km. You will get to know a popular and widespread activity as soon as you arrive. Canoeing and kayaking are possible on many Czech rivers and streams. There are already campsites with stations for this water sport at many rest stops. Please note that you can travel toll-free in the direction of Prague up to kilometre 64. In this case, toll-free means that you do not need a vignette up to this kilometre.

Destinations in the Bohemian Forest

In earlier times, people in this region lived from the forest. Mining, charcoal and glass production served as a livelihood. The abundance of forest areas has remained impressive to this day.

Sumava National Park

The Šumava National Park covers an area of 69,030 hectares, making it the largest national park in the Czech Republic. Surrounding the park is the Šumava Protected Landscape Area with a further 97,970 hectares. The area has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1990. Together with the Bavarian Forest National Park, the Šumava National Park is the largest contiguous forest area in Central Europe.

The region is known as the Green Roof of Europe. The flora and fauna in Šumava includes lynx, capercaillie, three-toed woodpecker, Pannonian gentian and Bohemian gentian. The Vltava and Otava rivers flow through the national park. There are also five glacial lakes to visit (Jezero Laka, Prášilské jezero, Plešné jezero, Cerné jezero and Certovo jezero). Numerous bogs such as the Jezerní slat' and Chalupska slat' bogs are also worth seeing.

The Vltava reservoir

The Vltava Reservoir is ideal for visitors from Germany who want to get to know the Czech Republic's nature better. The right bank still has its natural surroundings. A cycle path leads around the lake. Campsites in Šumava offer plenty of accommodation and are also an ideal starting point for rowing, swimming, sailing or surfing. International kayaking and sailing competitions are held at regular intervals on the lake. Its abundance of fish favours fishing on the lake. This creates a very harmonious and peaceful atmosphere that is enjoyed by couples and water lovers alike.

Activities and excursions

The beauty of the East lies first and foremost in its unique cities.

Prague

The art-historical city of Prague has a lot to offer. New worlds open up beneath groves and meadows in the form of the Koněprusy stalactite caves. Millennia-old limestone has been deposited there. Karlštejn Castle is located near this attraction and is ideal for a walk. You should pack warm clothing for this excursion. Prague Castle, a large castle complex with architectural elements from Roman times to Gothic and the 20th century, is also a sight worth seeing and offers insights into Bohemian history.

Marienburg Castle

There are plenty of cultural sights in Marienburg. For example, the singing fountain at the spa colonnade can be found there. The Roman Catholic Deanery Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1848) by Johann Gottfried Gutensohn showcases the architectural features of the region and is likely to attract culture lovers in particular. Families with children should not miss the Boheminium Park miniature park in the east of the city.

Gastronomy

Bohemian food is usually traditional and includes dishes from the regions of Moravia and Silesia. There are also similarities with Austrian and Hungarian, as well as Bavarian and Saxon cuisine. A mixture of crops, fruit, vegetables, berries, mushrooms, fish and game is traditionally served. The rich grains and meat come from local agriculture. Pork and beef dominate the menu. It is also said that Bohemia is a land flowing with milk and honey because of the richness of its food. The saying polívka je grunt, maso je špunt, which loosely translates as soup is the basis, meat is the finish, emphasises the importance of soup in Bohemian cuisine. Soups are usually brought to the guest in a cup and poured into soup plates at the table. Garnishes are served separately.

Best time to visit

Most of the Šumava region has a refreshing climate. Only a few parts of Šumava, the Vltava Valley near Lenora, the southern slopes of the Želnava Highlands and parts of the Šumava foothills belong to the temperate warm zone. The overall climate is a mixture of maritime and continental, with the average temperature in the summer months generally between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. The most humid places are Březník, Modrava and the Modrava peat bogs. The weather is therefore pleasant, conducive to outdoor activities and not too warm. The Bohemian Forest has numerous places worth visiting, which can be visited as excursion destinations when camping in the Bohemian Forest.